PEOPLE from throughout the state converged on Halls Gap at the weekend for the second annual Grampians Music Festival.

Festival director Carly Flecknoe said fantastic crowds attended the three-day event, with numbers well up on last year.

The festival kicked off at 5pm on Friday and ran until 6pm on Sunday.

“We probably had about a 30 per cent increase on last year,” she said.

“It was really fantastic and the audience was amazing throughout the festival.

“We had great feedback, not just from visitors, but from our food vendors as well about how great people have been.

“It’s really amazing to hear that.”

The line-up featured 20 Australian bands including Polish Club, Tired Lion, Didirri, Press Club, Heaps Good Friends and Ruby Fields, who have received regular airplay on Triple J and commercial radio stations.

“We were rapt with the bands we had come along to play,” Ms Flecknoe said.

“Right from the start of the event on Friday night, it was a great example of what western Victoria could offer.

“It was great watching dancers have fun and enjoy the bands – it was a crazy experience and it was overwhelming to see how well it went.

“Saturday was another great day and the mosh pits and dancing continued well into Sunday.

“It was an unbelievable atmosphere – everyone was on a high across the three days.”

Ms Frecknoe said the festival was a great opportunity for Wimmera residents to enjoy live music.

“Whether people are from Horsham, Ararat, St Arnaud, Stawell or anywhere in between, this was a great chance to see high-calibre acts without having to travel to Melbourne,” she said.

Ms Frecknoe said organisers would take a break for a week after the festival finished.

“We will then come together again and discuss how it all went, along with the feedback we received,” she said.